Modern Warfare 2 PS3 servers went down Wednesday, bringing online multiplayer to a halt. One of the game's developers helped calm the storm by releasing updates on Twitter.
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PS3: Modern Warfare 2 servers down, debunked on Twitter
Modern Warfare 2's PS3 servers buckled under the weight of hundreds of thousands of simultaneous sign-in attempts, according to an Infinity Ward rep.
By Andrew Heining | 11.11.09
Modern Warfare 2 – those three words are arguably the biggest in gaming this year, but it took just two days for problems with the game’s servers to bring the thriving multiplayer community to its knees.
Speculation Wednesday pegged the PS3 multiplayer outages to a software patch released for the game Tuesday night, but those claims were laid to rest Wednesday – on Twitter, of all places.
Robert Bowling, Creative Strategist at Modern Warfare 2 developer Infinity Ward, used his Twitter handle, @fourzerotwo, to shoot down rumors and to spread information directly to the thousands of gamers looking for answers.
Here’s a rundown of how Bowling debunked the myths and misunderstandings surrounding the outage, which was pegged to the failure of a server at Demonware, the third-party firm tasked with handling Modern Warfare 2 Playstation 3 multiplayer traffic:
In response to questions about why multiplayer went down (12:3o ET):
The amount of players on #MW2 [Playstation Network] overwhelmed the PSN presence server which updates “what you’re doing” and is essential to parties.
On when a patch for the game’s multiplayer was coming (3:00 ET):
[Multiplayer] doesn’t require a patch. It’s a server overload not a bug in the code. They’re working to have servers back up ASAP.
On rumors that Modern Warfare 2 multiplayer wouldn’t be back up til Friday (4:00 ET):
Not true. Multiplayer will be available as soon as Demonware gets the servers back online ASAP.
On what caused the Demonware servers to go down (8:oo ET):
#MW2 PS3 Update: Looks like it was the amount of connections at once that killed PSN. They’re enabling 20,000 users at a time to connect now
Demonware server died. Causing mass error messages to Sony’s server, which made it block all #MW2 connections to prevent PSN fail
On when Demonware and XBox Live would fix the intermittent multiplayer issues (8:00 ET):
I know the two teams are working on it non-stop and won’t stop until it’s up for everyone. Already get @’s of ppl connecting.
Modern Warfare 2’s media blitz, controversial storyline, and vaunted sales predictions combined to create a massive amount of buzz surrounding its release, and some wondered if the game wasn’t hurting worker productivity nationwide.
Preliminary reports say the game sold over 1.23 million units in 24 hours in the UK. Using that number, one analyst is predicting global one-day sales of 7 million copies, which would easily beat the 6 million units sold in the first week by the previous record holder, last year’s Grand Theft Auto IV.
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Played Modern Warfare 2? What were your multiplayer experiences? What’s your take on the controversial storyline? Are you happy with how Bowling addressed the outages on Twitter? Leave a comment below, or catch up with us on Twitter – we’re @CSMHorizonsBlog.
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2. EX33396948 | 11.11.09
I was fortunate enough to enjoy the game on it’s release date. Although attempting to play this after noon (11/11/09) left me waiting to connect.
I’m a little unhappy (new game, can’t play it to it’s fullest :/ ) but I’m also a little happy to know that it crashed due to the sheer number of players signing in. +1 Sony?
3. Logan | 11.11.09
The game is insane!! So worth it! I traded in call of duty 4..knowing full well I will never play it again…The multiplayer is amazing and the servers being down is just a sign at how good it really is..The plot line is great..there is a level you play as a CIA agent framed for a bad terrorist attack in which you take place…a little disturbing to some..but you can choose not to take part…so go out and get the game..and keep it on the shelves…use your judgment people its just a game…
4. SOCOM-JEDI1 | 11.11.09
I played on the night of the 10th until around 430am on the 11th with no problems. The morning of the 11th i couldn’t get back in…no big deal as i logged in just fine tonight. PS3 owner and fan…if you dont have MW2 get it NOW!
PS: Many thanks to our veterans (current/retired/deceased) and Activision for donating a million bucks to a USO non-profit for veterans they setup.
5. Sean | 11.12.09
My multiplayer experience was better than what I had expected. I’ve played the multiplayer on Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, Call of Duty 5: World at World, and now Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, and they have improved on everything making the experience, while familiar, still exciting and fun.
My take on the controversial storyline is that it is actually very well done but at the same time it worries me. It’s very well done in that, one may go through the entire level without shooting and killing an unarmed individual. The level is very intricately important to the development of the story in the game and it is executed with high detail and horror. These are the feelings, I believe, that were meant to be provoked. I had a hard time with the level in that, while I had just gotten done killing many enemies from the previous levels, seeing unarmed individuals get shot at while running with blood trails was very disturbing. The game is so realistic that the player involved may actually develop ill feelings or they may put their ill feelings, already existing, into practice (by shooting unarmed individuals with pleasure). Video games of today are not like video games of yesterday and it is definitely different from movies in that they may involve and submerse the individual playing to a deeper level, emotionally and physically. My conclusion about the controversial level would be that it’s a fertile ground for feelings that may be good or bad for human nature, depending on the individual.
6. ProtoFreak @ PSN | 11.12.09
I played the game on tuesday morning with no problems, online was cool, all was great. The next day (today) i tried to log in but it kept loading… i just played campaign til i beat it. It’s an amazing story, and i do think the civilian massacre was messed up, it didn’t shock me that much. At least i didn’t pull the trigger, i just watched. Pretty cool how Bowler left messages and updates. and they fixed the problem, i believe
7. Trooper USA LA | 11.12.09
Great game, up and running now on PS3 servers (8:50pm Pacific Time).
Go out and buy this game, get online and move up in ranks, don’t get behind or you will never have fun online with your low rank and starter weapons.
Learn the maps and run and gun.
Trooper2008
9. Lance | 11.12.09
I gotta say I was pretty mad about not playing the game to its fullest after only two days. It is good to know that they are working 24/7 on it and keeping us updated though. I don’t see what the big deal is about shooting up the airport? I was blasting as many as I could and killing the ones barely surviving. Twisted? Maybe, but no worse than GTA IV. I am not sure about the online yet in comparison to the first Modern Warfare. I like some things and not others about MW2. It seems kind of cartoonish in comparison but I love all the added things to the game. I would recommend it to any fan of the series.
10. Hustlebrandz | 11.12.09
Yes I was unable to play at all yesterday from around 4pm it went down here in the UK…Monday and Tuesday were fine for me…then yesterday just killed it…but me and my mates just played through the specOps on veteran which was hard and fun I found…then I wake up this morning read this article grab my ps3 pas by my bed side turn it on, go to multiplayer as it works, fantastic let the games begin once again…and hope the servers remain up and never go down again…
11. Adam23177 | 11.12.09
What a load of nonesense!
It should be assumed that every game sold or even printed will play on multiplayer and the servers should have been set up to accomodate!
12. Kev | 11.12.09
Ive had the pleasure of trying it online which i have to add is brilliant. But you would have thought that the people responsible for the servers would have predicted that there would be a massive upsurge of online games, and should have catered for this!
A little disappointed to say the least!
13. adarmoss | 11.12.09
(^That’s my PSN name, add me if you want)
I actually haven’t tried the multiplayer as of yet, I pre-ordered the game, and it was late arriving, so I’ve only just completed the story mode, I learnt that the online was down, so decided to give it a miss.
14. HizzleDizzle | 11.12.09
Guys, come on. I was shooting the unarmed people in the airport because, and this shouldn’t be news to you, they are not real people ! Isn’t it actually worse to be happily running around shooting people in multiplayer where the individual at the other end of the connection gets shot? Sure they respawn, but if you think the game has such a psychological effect on people then what does being killed in MP do?
I played MP from midnight until about 2am on the release and it was fantastic. Better than COD4. Disappointed with the lack of connection yesterday but I’ll be playing this game for months so it’s not too bad.
15. James | 11.12.09
Is it back up online now then?
i hope so, bought it last night, havent got online at all yet :(.
Single player is good,
graphics are good:D
16. Dunkebaby | 11.12.09
Played in just after launch and i have 2 say it was freeking awesomeness. aside from me getting killed way 2 many times. lol. slight pain in the a** about the servers. only get about 2hrs a nite 2 play, but i pretty sure it wont b 2 long b4 im getting killed again!!!
18. Sean | 11.12.09
My multiplayer experience was better than what I had expected. I’ve played the multiplayer on Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, Call of Duty 5: World at World, and now Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, and they have improved on everything making the experience, while familiar, still exciting and fun.
My take on the controversial storyline is that it is actually very well done but at the same time it worries me. It’s very well done in that, one may go through the entire level without shooting and killing an unarmed individual. The level is very intricately important to the development of the story in the game and it is executed with high detail and horror. These are the feelings, I believe, that were meant to be provoked. I had a hard time with the level in that, while I had just gotten done killing many enemies from the previous levels, seeing unarmed individuals get shot at while running with blood trails was very disturbing. The game is so realistic that the player involved may actually develop ill feelings or they may put their ill feelings, already existing, into practice (by shooting unarmed individuals with pleasure). Video games of today are not like video games of yesterday and it is definitely different from movies in that they may involve and submerse the individual playing to a deeper level, emotionally and physically. My conclusion about the controversial level would be that it’s a fertile ground for feelings that may be good or bad for human nature, depending on the individual.
19. Laubow | 11.12.09
So happy to play the game online when it came out on Tuesday, broke down in tears when it didn’t work on Wednesday. Oh well let’s hope it’s a minor glitch as Friday night is C.O.D MW2 night for me and my mates online!!!
Superb game though really awesome!
20. Paul | 11.12.09
I must respectfully disagree with Dan. Although I’ve certainly had to deal with Xbox LIVE outages, it’s no worse than having to manually download patches and update anti-cheat software from overloaded servers, as you had to do under the dedicated-server model. I prefer PC gaming to consoles, and personally I think centralized servers are the right way to go - better anti-hack assurance, uniform levels of quality, and no angst-ridden teen admins telling you how to play.
22. LilMiller | 11.12.09
I was pretty disapointed yesterday considering I skipped school to play MW2 and it ended up being down Untill around 3 when I normally get off of school.. I haven’t had time to get to the level that everyone is talking about, but it sounds interesting and I am looking forward to seeing what everyone is talking about.
23. Lily | 11.12.09
God, i was like crying when it was down..but i guess it was just because im a girl 
x
24. Jordan Price | 11.12.09
Anyone know if the servers are back up?…. add my account soonerbasketball if you want to play with me sometimes
25. Sarah | 11.12.09
I have Xbox 360 and a PC. My PC is high spec, and i’m running Modern Warfare 2 at max resolution on PC. Without question the PC has the best and smoothest graphics of the versions of the game. As for controllers. I can use the Xbox 360 controller on my PC. I also have the option to use a keyboard and mouse. Even tho my Xbox 360 controller for PC works on PC I still choose to use my Logitech G9 mouse as its quicker and smoother. The G9 mouse costs more than a Xbox 360 controller and its quite simply hands down the best way to play a first person shooter. I’ve finished the single player of modern warfare 2 in 5 hours. There is problems with a lack of dedicated servers for COD MW2 and I’ve had mutiplayer problems with this in multiplayer already after 10 hours of multiplayer in this game. It will stop midplay looking for a new host alot. This really destroys the multiplayer experience. Something the entire PC community begged Infinity Ward to resolve with dedicated servers. Battlefield Bad Company 2 coming out in March 2010 is going to be so much better than this. BC2 will have dedicated servers.
26. Joel | 11.12.09
The biggest issue I had was my friends and I were unable to join parties to play as soon as we accepted invites an error message would pop up. I sure hope this was a result of the server outages.
27. Will | 11.12.09
First….please dont complain. It was only one day when the MP was down. I went back on the next day after the day when the servers were down and everything was great. But…. its not like there is more to the game than just MP. The single player is an awesome part to the game too. Take a day and play the levels if the Network is down. The servers will be back up. Just take a deep breath and just relax, and take a break from MP. lol
28. Wasabi11 | 11.12.09
Dude I Just Got This In The Mail and The Online Isnt Working We’ll This Sucks I Really Wanted To Lvl Up And Yes You GUys ARe Right They Should HAve Known To Open Another Dew Servers Because This Was MAjor Launch And Demonware Should HAve Known TO OPen Another Dedicated Server Atleast 3 Because People Who didnt get 5 got this and everyone from mw1 moved on to this well thats what i’ve been observing add me up on psn wasabi11
*NOTE This Game Is Gonna Be Killer Hopefully It Will Be Up Today I Hope It IS!!
30. Mark | 11.13.09
Got the game Tuesday, rarely get online as server is full and i can’t play private games with friends, I just get a message come up “The game session you were invited to is no longer valid”. Smooth.
Think the game testers must on got the chop in the recession.
Or Xbox is chucking down some mad juju and interfering with PS3’s spider pig and blocking web server?
Who knows hey, rapid fixing would be appreciated, the game is off the chin strap.
31. y.spooky122 | 11.13.09
wow how amazing is this game i thought cod 4s online was the best i thought how could this be made better and some how they have hats off to iw game of the decade
32. Chris | 11.13.09
Fairly good single player, though MW1 was better.
Online doesnt appear to be working.
Have no problems going online with MW1.
Dont think I’ll be buying from this publisher/developer again. If you expect something to sell well, and you are restricting players to your own network, you should provide for it. Otherwise goods are not fit for purpose.
33. Tim Anderson | 11.14.09
Just bought the game last night and am very pissed it won’t connect. The only reason I buy is to play online. I want my money back!!!!
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1. Dan | 11.11.09
This is one of many examples of why PC users of this game are pissed off. You have to rely on one company’s servers in order to play - They go down, you cant play online. In PC world, with dedicated servers, this would never happen. Maybe one server would go down, in which case you simply CHOOSE a different server. Not the case with IW’s design, they want everyone to be their slaves. What happens when MW3 comes out and they turn off MW2 servers? Nobody will be able to play the game anymore - Kind of sad.